This is a collection of news about border issues, particularly those seen from Arizona and regarding the right to keep and bear arms. Sources often include Mexican media. It's often interesting to see how different the view is from the south.
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COLUMBUS -- When federal agencies raided this small New Mexico town last year to stop a gun-smuggling operation they allege was sending guns into Mexico's drug war, they left a trail of indictments that gutted city leadership -- including the police department -- and turned residents leery of having outside law enforcement patrol it.

"There were two police early this morning giving tickets, making people late for work," complained Alejandro Zapata, a resident of Columbus for more than 20 years. He pointed to a street corner where, he said, New Mexico State Police were handing out citations last week. "People said somebody put out a report that we needed more police. We don't. We have our policeman, and it's Ojeda. We don't need any more than him."

The Ojeda to whom he is referring is Jose Ojeda, a corporal from the Luna County Sheriff's Department who, in July, was reassigned from Deming to patrol Columbus, about 50 miles to the south.

Ojeda has been patrolling the estimated 750 homes in Columbus since July 7. That's the day the Village Council voted to dissolve its police department after Police Chief Angelo Vega, Mayor Eddie Espinoza, and trustee Blas Gutierrez were among 11 defendants charged in an 84-count federal indictment that ultimately linked them to the gun-smuggling operation.

Sheriff takes over

When the five-member Columbus police force was eradicated, Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos moved to absorb their patrol routes, creating a plan to keep Columbusmonitored 24 hours a day with Luna County deputies."Once the police chief was arrested, and the mayor and other individuals, we got involved because there was no law enforcement," said Luna County Sheriff's Department Capt. Arturo Baeza, a spokesman for the department.

Since then, the Luna County Sheriff's Department has racked up expenses of between $17,000 and $18,000 a month to pay the salaries, overtime and fuel costs.

Baeza added that Columbus would most likely be a permanent part of the sheriff's patrol because "I don't see them ever getting a police department ever back on its feet."

The presence of Luna County sheriff's deputies would be a problem for some people, Baeza said.

One of these is Walter Simpson, a resident of more than 30 years and a captain with the Columbus Fire Department. Simpson said he doesn't like the assumption from Luna County that his town will not ever be able to have its own police department.

"That's the way (Sheriff) Cobos would like it, too. He would like total control of us down here. He would like us to be under his thumb," said Simpson, who was adamant that one day Columbus would sort out its finances and reopen its police department.

"It's going to happen. We are very positive down here, regardless of what people think. When I say people, I'm talking about the people in Deming," said Simpson. "They have always treated us like a red-headed stepchild. And I'm talking about the county. We are going to be just fine."

New mayor

Nicole Lawson, appointed as Columbus mayor in June to replace her jail-bound predecessor, is the town's 37-year-old emergency medical technician who is now assigned to clean up the town's finances.

The task, she said, is difficult."It's frustrating, and it's hard. I have such dedicated workers, and I have to send them home," she said about staff who is working late to help her. "I understand me staying late. But I have a mom of three in there working until midnight, then up at six and doing it again."

Before Columbus can consider starting its own police force again, Lawson said finances would have to be straightened out, and the city would need to become profitable. To do this, she said a 30-year loan for $700,000 might be necessary. She also said a forensic audit into the town's money trail is part of fixing its woes.

"Somebody will be held responsible for what happened" to the town's finances, said Lawson, whose term ends in March 2014.

Lawson said she can understand why people here are frustrated by the myriad problems engulfing Columbus.

"I share your frustration," she said, when asked what message she would send to her town. "Please don't give up. Stay involved. This is your community. Don't ever close your eyes or back down. The money that goes to that office is your money. The things that are done should be done to serve you."

BONN — German tank maker Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has reached an agreement with the EDAG Group to take over its production of armored civil vehicles.

KMW announced the deal Jan. 23, saying the purchase of the German automotive development specialist still requires approval by the cartel authorities.

The acquisition is a move by KMW to strengthen its role in the market for protected military wheeled and tracked vehicles using EDAG's technologies, as well as developing activities in the highly protected civil vehicles sector.

The acquisition also complements KMW's strategic activities to establish itself in Central and South America. EDAG manufactures its protection systems at sites in Ingolstadt, Germany, as well as a facility in Mexico.

"The extension of our numerous protection activities through the EDAG protection branch is a logical step and, with a view to the site in Mexico, a consistent continuation of our Central and South America strategy," Frank Haun, chief executive and president of KMW, said in a press statement.

The EDAG protection business develops and integrates ballistic protection systems for civil vehicles produced by a range of global manufacturers.